Locking whip-socket.



. PATENTED JULY '7, 1908.

No.v 892,390.

F. BERGHOLM. LOCKING WHIP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1908.

'UNrrED srarrs PATENT onirica.

FRANK BERGHOLM, OF JAMESTOWN, NORTH DAKOTA.

LOCKING WHIP-SOCKET.

Application filed February 28, 1908.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK BERGHOLM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Stutsman and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking lVhip-Soekets, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved form of locking whip socket, to be used in connection with vehicles, and which embodies a structure of the utmost simplicity and at the same time one which is substantial and especially effective for the purposes for which it is devised. The invention involves peculiar locking mechanism mounted upon the whip socket and adapted for operation by a key.

For a full understanding of the invention and the advantages and mode of operation thereof reference is to be had to the following detail description and to the several views of the drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the whip socket embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the lock casing, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken about on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the non-rotatable head of the locking mechanism with its integral spaced arms, and Fig. 5 is a. detail perspective view of the rotatable head and movable locking member supported thereby.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the following descrip tion and on the several 'figures of the drawings. I

In the practical embodiment 'of my invention I employ a whip socket 1 which is of any suitable form adapted to snugly receive the butt of the whip, and comprising a tubular or hollow body closed at its lower end by a cap having a central aperture 2, to permit water received in the socket to drain off, and having its upper end flared to facilitate placing the whip in the socket. Interseeting the socket 1 between its ends, and preferably integrally formed therewith is a lock casing 3 in which is mounted the locking mechanism forming an essential feature of the present invention. The opposite end portions of the casing 3 have closing caps 4 applied detachably thereto whereby ready access may be had to the parts within the casing 3 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7, 1908.

Serial No.' 418,379.

one of said caps 4 being provided with a key opening 5 through which a suitable key is in troduced into the casing for operation of the lockingmechanism. The lockingmechanism in the casing 3 is of very simple construction comprising only a few parts. Located near one end of the casing y3, which is horizontally arranged, is a non-rotatable head G adapted for a certain amount of movement longitudinally of the casing 3 and having spaced actuating arms or members 7 projecting laterally therefrom. The members 7 are preferably integral with the head 6 and are arranged in spaces between the adjacent sides of the portions of the socket 1 and easing 3 being freely movable in such space. Said members 7 are therefore arranged upon opposite sides of the socket 1 and they are of a sufficient length to extend into the end portion of the casing 3 opposite that in which the head 6 is arranged. The outer extremities of the actuating members 7 are provided upon the inner surfaces thereof with a plurality of grooves S and said grooves are adapted to receive a spiral cam 9 upon the periphery of a rotatable head 10 formed somewhat similarly to the non-rotatable head. 6. The head 10 is of course arranged in the end of the casing 3 opposite that in which the head 6 is mounted and the outer side of said head is formed A with a key-seat 11 and a recess 11l at the base of said seat. A central projection 12 also extends outwardly from the key-seat 11.

The means provided for direct locking engagement with the whip when the lock is introduced into the socket 1 includes a rigid locking member 13 projecting from and preferably integral with, the head 6 at the inner side of theblock. A similar locking member 14 is mounted upon the rotatable head 10, the member 14, however, being pivoted at a central point, as shown at 15, to the head 14. Each of the locking members 13 and 14 projects through a suitable opening 16 in the side of the socket 1 so that when the locking mem- 1 bers move toward one another they will project into the socket 1 and engage the whip supported thereby. The pivotal mounting of the locking member on the rotatable head 10 ermits of rotation of this .head independent y of the locking member, for the purposes which will now be described.

In the actual operation of the invention under normal conditions the locking mechanism in the casing 3 is so arranged that the locking members 13 and 14 do not project into the socket 1. When, however, the user desires to lock the whip from accidental displacement, or removal by unauthorized persons, he introduces a key 17 into the casing 3 through the key opening 5. The key is provided with a suitable projection 17 a adapted to enter the recess 11a of the seat 11 and then the key is turned, being centered by means of the projection 12 entering a recess in the outer end of said key. When the key 17 is turned the rotatable head 10 is rotated and the spiral cam 9 engaging the grooves S of the members 7 will -move said members longitudinally toward the adjacent end of the casing 3, such movement drawing the locking members 13 and 14 toward one another until they project into the socket 1 and firmly grip the whip therein at opposite sides. To unlock the Whip it is only necessary to intro duce the key 17 into the casing 3 and rotate same in a direction reverse to that above described.

The pivoted locking member 14 and its head 1() being adapted for relative movement, only the head 10 rotates and said member 14 merely moves either toward or from the member 13. The many advantages of the invention 'will be apparent from the foregoing description of its construction and operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. The combination with a whip socket, of locking mechanism therefor comprising a casing, a head mounted at one end of said casing and having spaced actuating arms extending into the other end of the casing and arranged upon opposite sides of the socket, a second head mounted in the last mentioned end of the casing, locking members carried by the aforesaid heads and movable thereby into and out of the socket, connecting means between the last mentioned head and the actuating members projecting from the first mentioned head, and means for effecting relative movement of the heads and locking members supported thereby.

2. The combination with a whip socket, of locking mechanism therefor comprising a casing intersecting said socket, a non-rotatable head in one end of said casing, a rotatable head in the other end of said casing, connecting means between the said heads including an operating cam, locking members carried by the heads and movable toward and from one another, into and out of the socket respectively, and a key for rotating the rotatable head to actuate the locking members.,

3. The combination with a whip socket, of locking mechanism therefor comprising a casing intersecting said socket, a non-rotatable head in one end of said casing, a rotatable head in the other end of said casing, connecting means between the said heads including an operating cam, locking members carried by the heads and movable toward and from one another, into and out of the socket respectively, and a key for rotating the rotatable head to actuate the locking members, the locking member on the non-rotatable head being rigid therewith while the locking member on the rotatable head is movably applied thereto.

4. The combination with a support, of locking means mounted thereon comprising a casing, opposing locking members mounted in said casing, connecting means between said members comprising actuating arms, a spiral cam and groove connection between the actuating arms and one of the locking members, and means for o erating the said connection for effecting loc ring or unlocking movement of the locking members.

In testimony whereof I afHX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK BERGHOLM.

l/Vitnesses D. M. ROBERTS, F. E. ARCHIBALD. 

